In the end, your studies will protect you.

Author Lim Min-chan · Publisher First Penguin · Publication Date 2026-07-22 · ISBN 9791199889347

About the Book

"It's not that you can't study well, it's that you haven't found the right way yet."

A book that soothes the anxious hearts of teenagers and reveals the moment when studying finally becomes your ally!

How many people genuinely enjoy studying? For most teenagers, studying is boring, tedious, annoying, and something they have to do even if they don't want to. So why should we study? To get into a good university? To get ahead of others? To earn more money? Of course, those can be reasons for studying. But they are not the fundamental reasons why we should study.

Author Lim Min-chan, who went from a regular high school in a provincial area to Chung-Ang University College of Medicine and has since become a 'study mentor' to hundreds of thousands of teenagers nationwide, explains why we should study:

"Studying is a process of learning the essential attitudes for life."
That's right. Review teaches us perseverance to be a little better than yesterday, and exams give us the courage to humbly accept results and start anew. Even on days when we don't feel like doing anything, sitting at our desk and keeping our promise to ourselves helps us develop diligence, and we learn tenacity not to give up even if the results are not as expected. In other words, studying is not just about accumulating knowledge; it's about steadily building the strength to live in the world.

"Anxiety is proof that I am doing my best."
"Let's aim for excellence instead of perfection."
"Exams are teachers that help me grow."

This book, "Studying Will Eventually Protect You," becomes a greater presence than studying itself, soothing the anxieties that weigh on teenagers' hearts and giving them the courage to sit back at their desks. To all teenagers who are anxious but want to do well, and who feel overwhelmed but don't want to give up on themselves, this book quietly tells them: You are already doing well enough. And you will eventually succeed.

"From the power to endure studying
to methods for effective studying,
and subject-specific study strategies!"

A solid study prescription for wavering teenagers

No matter how good a study method is, if you easily crumble in the face of anxiety and fear, you won't be able to reach your desired dream. Conversely, no matter how strong your mind is, if you don't know concrete methods for practice, the path to your goal will be difficult. Studying is ultimately complete when the 'why' (the mental aspect that holds you) and the 'how' (the technique that guides you) come together.

This is precisely why you should read "Studying Will Eventually Protect You." It contains not only the mental management techniques that the author, who ranked first in a regular high school and went on to Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, learned through his own trials and errors, but also practical, subject-specific learning strategies that are highly effective. From how to balance preparation and review, how to plan during exam periods, how to internalize incorrect problems, how to do cumulative review, and what to focus on when studying subjects like math and English – by following the 'real advice' that only a senior who has successfully navigated the admissions process can give, you will not only see a rapid increase in your grades but also a change in your attitude towards studying and your perspective on life.

Studying is like walking on two feet. A strong mind that holds you up so you can get back on your feet even when you want to fall, and realistic techniques that show you the direction to move steadily towards your goal. "Studying Will Eventually Protect You" will be those two sturdy legs, quietly supporting the steps of teenagers moving towards their dreams. Because the person who reaches their goal is not the most special person, but the one who never loses the balance between their mind and method until the end.


Endorsements

There are some things in the world that don't need a reason. Studying is one of them. Studying is something you must do silently, without seeking a reason. Because it is the least courtesy you can show yourself as a human being.
Of course, studying aimlessly does not help in life. That's why the author's words, "If you can't avoid studying, find the advantages that studying can give you," are very precious. Just by reading this book, anyone can realize 'what,' 'why,' and 'how' to study and experience the miraculous days of studying with a smile.
- Kim Jong-won (Author, "Firm Words I Tell You")

Table of Contents

Prologue_ To you who asks why you should study

Part 1. The Right Mindset Towards Studying

Remember that your profession is 'student'
Studying isn't just about having fun
Studying is something you must do even if you don't have a dream
Grades are built by consistency
Studying is something you have nothing to lose from
The pleasant privilege of studying together
Don't get too excited or too discouraged
Unexpected benefits of exams
Studying begins with acknowledging your shortcomings
How to calm an anxious mind
Hating studying changes nothing
To study well, you must be able to resist doing what you want
When studying is hard, think of your parents
What's more important than perfection
Studying doesn't just improve grades

Part 2. Study Habits for a Stronger Tomorrow

Incorrect problems make me stronger
Don't fall for 'fake studying'
Do cumulative review after each chapter
Sometimes, change your study spot
Mistakes are also a part of skill
The start of studying is listening carefully in class
Designate weekends as 'review days'
On exam day, focus only on yourself
3 ways to reduce mistakes on exams
If you want to study well, you must increase your study volume
200% utilization of your planner
Why you should be wary of fake slumps
What is my study pace?
Actively utilize your school teachers
How to use the alternating textbook method

Part 3. Subject-Specific Study Strategies

(Korean)

Get close to literature books
Non-fiction begins with 'curiosity'
Korean also needs memorization
The answer is in the passage

(Mathematics)

In math, concepts come first
Have faith that you can do it
Be calm with easier problems
Don't just stick to math

(English)

English is a language before it's a subject
You need vocabulary to understand English
Transformed problems determine scores
Never underestimate absolute grading

(Social Studies · Science · Korean History)

Use Chinese characters for difficult terms
The power of reading, writing, and repeating
Problem-solving is the completion of memorization

Part 4. Precious Advice to Remember as a Teenager

I am someone who will achieve great things later
Don't lose your strengths trying to fix your weaknesses
How to escape the swamp of comparison
Focus only on what you can change
Studying without earnestness doesn't last long
Every teacher has something to learn from
I do not determine my own limits
Don't let emotions become attitudes
To avoid being controlled, you must control yourself
Don't forget the true purpose of going to an academy
Opportunities don't just appear
I am a precious being that cannot be measured by scores
Emotions fade, but process and results remain
Confidence comes from conviction in oneself
Why writing is necessary during school years
Things done for myself don't require reward
To not take the extraordinary for granted
The beautiful courage of admitting mistakes
Parents were students too
Past happiness does not return